Plateau boosts malaria fight, reaches 1m children
So far, we have administered SPAQ to 1,012,160 children under-five, which is 106 per cent coverage.;
Mr Ndak Kizito, Programme Manager of the Plateau State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP), says the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) project is significantly reducing malaria prevalence across the state’s 17 local government areas.
Kizito spoke during an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday in Jos, organised by SMEP in collaboration with the Malaria Consortium to share progress made through the SMC intervention programme.
He explained that the state administered Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine with Amodiaquine (SPAQ) to children under five years of age as part of efforts to protect vulnerable populations during the malaria transmission season.
According to him, SPAQ medication has been administered to more than one million children under five in the last three implementation cycles, making the project one of the state’s largest public health campaigns.
“So far, we have administered SPAQ to 1,012,160 children under-five, which is 106 per cent coverage.
“The SMC intervention is significantly reducing malaria cases in Plateau,” Kizito stated.
He revealed that malaria prevalence in Plateau had dropped to 18.8 per cent, with an unpublished Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) suggesting a further reduction to 15 per cent across the state.
“We are optimistic that by the time we conclude the fourth and fifth cycles of SPAQ administration, a malaria-free Plateau will be within reach,” he added.
Dr Nicholas Baamlong, Plateau State Commissioner for Health, applauded the achievements of the SMC programme, calling it a major milestone in the state’s broader efforts to combat malaria.
Baamlong assured stakeholders of continued government support for the SMC project, reaffirming its commitment to eliminate malaria and improve child health outcomes throughout Plateau communities.
Earlier, Dr Mbwas Mabor, Programme Manager of Malaria Consortium, said the session aimed to sensitise the public and share progress made with journalists and stakeholders.
He added that the engagement would also brief media professionals on details of the fourth SMC cycle, scheduled to commence across Plateau State from September 4.